Electromagnetic device



Aug. 7, 192 3. 1,464,091

W. H. D. FORD ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE Filed Dec. 2'7, 1919 Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

umrso srAT s PATENT omelet.

WILLIAM H. 1). roan, on NEW ORK, N. 'Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, nconroan'rnn, ornnw VYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGNETIC nnvicn.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro magnetic Devices, of whlch the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This lnventlon relates in general to electromagnetic devices and more particularly to an electromagnetic device which is pre- .vented from being operated accident-ally by means of an electrically operatedlatch.

Under various service conditions, it is often required to have an electromagnetic device, such as a relay, so arranged that when operated it will remain locked in the operating position until released by other means. The device may be held in the operated position electrically, by means of a locking winding, or mechanically, by means of a latch, as disclosed for example in my copending application, Serial No. 268,524, filed December 27 1918. WVith such a device, however, there is the disadvantage thatif it is operated momentarily by accident, as by jarring, it remains locked up in the operated position. This feature is of particular importance in connection with relays or other electromagnetic devices which are mounted in close proximity to heavy guns, since the concussion is often sufficient to cause the vibration of the relay armature an amount sufiicient to cause the device to be locked up in its operated position. Also, in various other places, a relay may be sub jected to more or less jarring which would cause the momentary closure of the contacts springs.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic device in which the armature is normally held in a locked position until released electrically. f

To attain this object and in accordance with a feature of this invention, there is provided a second armature or magnetic latch which prevents the circuit controlling armature from moving until the device is operated electrically. This and other features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawing,in which there is shown a view in Sofa perspective of a vention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is disclosed an electromagnetic device which includes a relay 5 of a familiar type provided with a core extension or pole piece 6 and a U-shaped armature 7, the free end of which is so formed as to have a flat portion shape corresponding to that of the pole piece 6. The outer legs of armature 7 are provided with studs 9-9 of hard rubber or similar insulating material. These studs bear against the free ends of contact springs 1010 which are adapted to moveinto contact with the springs 11-11 upon the movement of armature 7 toward the pole piece Rigidly secured to the pole piece 6 is a threaded stud 12 which extends through a suitable slot in the "armature portion 8 and is provided with a nut 8-having a shouldered portion which is adapted to bear against the outer side of the armature when device embodying this inacting as a back stop and limiting the move- .ment of the armature resulting from the.

tension of the springs l010.

A similar type of relay 14 having a pole piece 15 and an-armature 16 is mounted adjacent to relay'5 and in a fixed position rela tive thereto. This is accomplished by means of a plate 17 and a spacer rod 18 both of which are of brass or other similar nonmagnetic material and are rigidly secured to the pole pieces of the respective relays. Pivotally mounted upon the right-hand side of plate 17 by means of a trunnion screw 19 is a locking lever 20, of brass or similar non-magnetic material, the upper end of which is bevelled as shown at 21,

while the lower end is provided with a recess-or latch portion22. The armature of relay 5 is provided with a pin 23 adapted to engage the latch 22 when the armature of relay 5 is in its operated position and the i armature 7. A helical spring 30 is secured under tension between the levers 2.0 and :26 in the manner shown, thereby tending to cause the respective levers to bear against the pins and 29.

In the normal position of this device, as illustrated, movement of the armature is prevented by means oi the shoulder portion 28 bearing against the pin 29 until relay 5 is operated electrically. Upon current flowing the winding of relay 5., lever 26 is first attracted to the right, tending to bridge the gap between the pole pieces 6 and the armature extension 8. As this movement takes place the shoulder portion 28 moves away from pin 29, allowing the armature portion 8 to approach the pole piece 6, thus permitting the springs 1010 to engage the springs 1111. In its operated position, the pin comes into alignment with the latch portion 22 of lever 20 and the latter is drawn into the locked position by means of the tension of spring 30. The device thus remains in a locked operated position until a circuit is closed. through the relay 1% in which case, the pin 24 in armature 16 bears against the bevelled portion 21 causing movement of the upper portion of lever 20 to the left and the disengagement ot the locking portion 22 with the pin 23. Relay 14 is pro, vided with a spring member 31 which bears against an insulating stud 32 in the armature l6 and causes the latter to be returned to its normal position when the flow off current ceases.

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit controlling device comprising circuit controlling springs; an electromagnet; a pair of directly interlocking armatures for said electromagnet, one of said armatures being a circuit controlling arma ture arranged to actuate saidcircuit controlling springs; a catch; means for causing said catch to engage said circuit controlling armature to hold it in the operated position; and a second electromagnet for disengaging said catch from said circuit controlling armature.

2. A circuit controlling device comprising circuit controlling springs; an electromagnet; a pair of directly interlocking arniatures for said electromagnet one of said armatures being a circuit controlling armature arranged to actuate said circuit controlling springs; a catch; a means for cans-- ing said catch to engage said circuit con-- trolling armature to hold it in the operated position; a second clectromagnet and an independent armature for said second electromagnet arranged to' disengage said catch from said circuit controlling armature.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising circuit controlling springs; an electromagnet; a pair oi? directly interlocking arnnv tures for said electromagnet, one of said armatures being a circuit controlling armature arranged to actuate said circuit controlling springs; a catch; means for causing said catch to engage said circuit controlling armature to hold it in the operated position; a second independent electromagnet; an armature for said second electromagnet arranged to disengage said catch from said circuit controlling armature; and spring means tending to maintain all of said arma tures in a non-operated position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of December A. D., 1919.

WILLIAM H. D. FORD. 

